If there was some conspiracy theory, don't you think that Abbott and/or Rippon would have placed higher than Miner and Dornbush at Nationals? Why would they "hold up" two unknowns or "hold down" the two guys that secured three spots last year? Your conspiracy theory with regard to men makes NO sense.

As for the ladies, well, there are 2 for 3 spots and the two that are going to Worlds skated better at Nationals (aye, Mirai).

Check that out with MM. He originated the conspiracy theory.

Going back to my 6.0 days when a Fall could cost you a championship. Ask Cohen about that. Nowadays 3 Falls are a wrist slap or is it because judges were under orders?

The USFSA has been using the same criteria to send skaters to Worlds since probably the 1950's. Seems like we've done pretty good in those 60 plus years. Name me another country with more World medals. Mirai and Jeremy blew it simple as that. I would love to see Mira go instead of either Rachael or Alissa after what happened at 4CC but it's not going to happen. As for the men give the young guys a chance. The US team needs to rebuild for Sochi and Jeremy probably won't even be around. If we lose the 3rd spot so be it we will get it back.

The USFSA has been using the same criteria to send skaters to Worlds since probably the 1950's. Seems like we've done pretty good in those 60 plus years. Name me another country with more World medals. Mirai and Jeremy blew it simple as that. I would love to see Mira go instead of either Rachael or Alissa after what happened at 4CC but it's not going to happen. As for the men give the young guys a chance. The US team needs to rebuild for Sochi and Jeremy probably won't even be around. If we lose the 3rd spot so be it we will get it back.

Remember when Johnny Weir won his first National title and Evan Lysacek was third? Michael Weiss finished up 4th that year at Nationals and didn't make the world team after many seasons of 3-6 at Worlds. Everyone was worried, but it turned out OK (didn't Lysacek end up 3rd at Worlds that year?).

Jeremy didnt exactly show he was a medal threat for Worlds here. He was beaten by the #4 Japanese man. He made the podium since Kozuka bombed the short. When you add in Chan and the top European men he would be a medal long shot at Worlds at best based on anything he has shown this season thus far.

That said I agree entirely he should be on the team over Miner. A margin of 0.19 at Nationals in no way should overcome the huge difference in ability and performance this season between them.

I agree with this.

I'm very happy that Jeremy has gotten a bronze medal, but beaten by Hanyu showed that he wasn't on a top form. He has left a lot of points in both his SP and LP besides that ur-ed 4T. He should really work on his spins this off season. I'd think that the boot issue has affected his spins tremendously. Next year, his spins will have no problems like in 2009-10. No matter of anything, he is still one of the top male skaters US got, and the international judges recognized it. He should have been on the world team with Bradley and Dornbush. Sad for him! Really wish to see those programs one more time.

Treeloving, you are sooo lucky! Thanks for conveying what it was like to see Daisuke live.

What he does to music goes beyond brilliance and enters the realm of magic.

Totally agree!

Originally Posted by genki

Treeloving:

His is so captivating, and you will loose the sense of time. His skating grabs your soul and shakes it!!! THIS IS THE DIRECT TRANSLATION OF JAPANESE EXPRESSION. Dai himself said, " I would like to deliver performance that grabs people's soul."And he does it by his pure charisma and magic.Just astounding.

Can't he have his own PCS added to his score?------Dai's only Pure, Chrisma, Special!!! yeah

Exactly, when I watch him skate, I really feel that he skated with heart and soul.

After I fly back home,I will write more of my fan point of view impression

For now, apart form Dai, Kozuka LP is brilliant. Marina Zueva is genius. And watched Yuzuru quad after so many fall is just Wow.

As promise, I would like to share some of my impression. This is impression from fan point of view so there will not be many comments on technique, but mainly express how a fan feel for watching world class figure skating live for the first time.

Daisuke – I don’t think I have to say anymore, many of you understand exactly how I feel when watched him live. He got a hugh support from the crown especially from Japan fangirl. I heard so many “Dai – Chan” when he entered the ice. And even though how much I like other skaters in this event, I think he is the best. Apart from great artistry, Dai jump is also amazing.

Kozuka – Youtube cannot do him any justice. When watched him live, I realize how amazing he is. His movement across the ice and his speed is just brilliant as well as his program which I think it is one of if not the best choreographed program I saw that night. The music and choreography hilight his elegant movements and skating skills. He is also much much more expressive than in youtube, his expression although is different type than Dai since Dai really make me feel how to skate with heart and soul but it is still spectacular. I certainly think he should get better PCS scores (In my opinion should be better than Abbot).

Yuzuru – As his fan, I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I think he was over-score in LP. His program is great until he singled that Lutz. After that, he gradually lost his stamina which may partly because he used a lot of energy in warm-up. His speed is also slower compare to other top guy and he also still need to work on some issues on spin, program component and step sequence (His step is actually better than when I watch him in youtube). Anyway, I still think he should be on podium. His quad is just wow (when he take off it seems that the whole arena waiting to see if he could land it or not and when he land the audiences gave super big applause). His 3A and 3A -3T are excellent combined with cool Ina Bauer and how he enjoyed performing to the program, he deserve medal. He received second biggest support from audiences after Daisuke and the audience are surprise (in a good way) that he beated Kozuka and Abbot. By the way, even he dress like Johnny weir, he doesn’t skate like Johnny weir. Their style is different.

Abbot – His program is like sunshine, it is so warm. I forget the time when watching him. I love to see the program when he does it perfectly.

Rippon – He has great speed, but when I watched his program I felt that the ice has a lot of space to be filled. He doesn’t own the ice like Dai Kozuka or even Yuzuru. There are something that prevent me from enjoy his Rach2 which actually is one of my favorite music.

Sawyer – Super entertaining skate, very expressive. So refreshing to watch after so many man who skate pay more attention to jump than program component, he deserve better PCS and the audiences absolutely love him.

Misha Ge – Surprise of the night, his step sequence WOW me and many. He get standing ovation from some audience which I totally think he deserve. Hope he has harder technique next time.

Yuzuru – As his fan, I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I think he was over-score in LP. His program is great until he singled that Lutz. After that, he gradually lost his stamina which may partly because he used a lot of energy in warm-up. His speed is also slower compare to other top guy and he also still need to work on some issues on spin, program component and step sequence (His step is actually better than when I watch him in youtube). Anyway, I still think he should be on podium. His quad is just wow (when he take off it seems that the whole arena waiting to see if he could land it or not and when he land the audiences gave super big applause). His 3A and 3A -3T are excellent combined with cool Ina Bauer and how he enjoyed performing to the program, he deserve medal. He received second biggest support from audiences after Daisuke and the audience are surprise (in a good way) that he beated Kozuka and Abbot. By the way, even he dress like Johnny weir, he doesn’t skate like Johnny weir. Their style is different.

His jumps are awesome! And he has such a lyrical quality to his skating. He still a bit rough around the edges and his stamina needs to improve. Hopefully, this will come with age. But I think he has the potential to be the future of Japanese male skating, because like Dai, I sense a passion in him that I don't often see in Kozuka or Oda.

If there was some conspiracy theory, don't you think that Abbott and/or Rippon would have placed higher than Miner and Dornbush at Nationals? Why would they "hold up" two unknowns or "hold down" the two guys that secured three spots last year? Your conspiracy theory with regard to men makes NO sense.

I think there was a very plausible conspiracy theory to award the gold to the veteran Bradley instead of newbie Dornbush by not marking down enough for Ryan's very flawed quad toe attempts. It still really bothers me that his 4toe was not marked UR because it clearly was. The USFSA has a history of doing this - rewarding Meissner's 3+3 and not Flatt's in the 2007 SP; rewarding Czisny's flawed LP over Flatt's clean LP in 2009.